Deasis; or, Adjuration An Expression of Feeling by Oath or Asseveration
De´-a-sis, from Greek, δέησις, an entresting, obtestation, or calling to witness .
The Latins called it OBSECRATIO, a beseeching, imploring, and OBTESTATIO, an adjuring, or calling of God to witness .
The figure is used when the speaker or writer calls God or heaven to witness to the truth of what is said, or to the facts which he states. Apart from this calling to witness, the figure is of the nature of Apostrophe (q.v. [Note: Which see.]).
For examples, see Deuteronomy 4:26, Deuteronomy 30:19 . 2 Samuel 20:20 . Job 27:5, Isaiah 14:24, Isaiah 62:8 . Jeremiah 22:5, Jeremiah 27:5, Ezekiel 5:11, Ezekiel 33:11, Ezekiel 34:8 . Acts 20:26 .
It is exemplified in such phrases as: “Be it far from me”; “The Lord do so unto me,” if I do or do not, etc.; “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul (thy own self) liveth.”
“Be it far from me” seems to mean “profane be it to me”: i.e., be it as far from me as I could wish a profane thing to be.